What Brings Us Together (A Ralph Dibny/ The Flash Fan-Fiction)

Chapter Four: Hopefully We Can Figure It Out

"I can't beleive you did this behind my back." Iris scolded as we all re-entered STAR Labs.

"You would've tried to stop us."

"Because it was a waste of time."

"I don't understand, this should've worked."

"Or your could've killed us all."

"I don't know, Iris, I think we were pretty close." Caitlin told her.

"I'm sorry, 'we'? Where have you been the last six months again?"

"Is now the wrong time to point out that Caitlin was here before you?" Iris glared at me. "I guess so."

"She was only trying to help." Joe pointed out.

"Look guys, we need to concentrate on stopping this Samurai who's trying to destroy the city, not on Barry."

"Dude, what is your deal?!" Cisco asked. "It's like you don't even want him back."

"Hey, hey, hey!" Joe scolded them before pressing his phone to his ear. "Cecile, can I call you back? We're in the middle of something here. What?!"

~~~

I couldn't keep the smile off of my face as we walked into CCPD.

"State police picked him up on the 112 outside of Ivy City." Cecile told us as we walked through the lobby.

"That's three-hundred miles away."

"Yeah, one of the cops is a Keystone vet. Recognized him."

"I knew it would work." Cisco said. I smiled wider, looking my arm through his. "I knew it." We came to a stop outside of one of the interrogation rooms.

"You should prepare yourselves." Cecile told us. She opened the door to reveal a bunch of strange markings covering the walls, and who else but Barry Allen, sitting on the floor writing them. My smile quickly fell as I realized that this is not the Barry Allen that we said goodbye to.

"Barry?" Iris asked. He turned around, his now bearded face coming into view. "Barry." He stood up, smiling at us, but I could tell that something was off.

"Nora shouldn't be here." He said.

"Your mom isn't here, Barry. It's...it's me, Iris. You're home."

"Your honor, I'm innocent. I didn't do this, I didn't kill anyone. Can you hear the stars singing?!" He put his hands on his face. "Rhyming, chiming, timing every hour, every minute. You said the city was safe! That there was no residual danger, but that's not true! What really happened that night?!"

"The city is safe." Iris said, clearly not understanding. "You saved it, you saved us all." He smiled at her.

"Stars melting...like ice cream, dream, gleam. Nothing seems..." He walked over to the window, which was also covered in weird symbols. "Nora shouldn't be here."

"I'm guessing this isn't just shock." Joe stated.

"Shock results from a drop in blood pressure. This is neurological." Caitlin replied.

"It's a whole new way at looking at physics, It will change the way that we think about everything, from a single atom to an entire galaxy." He screamed, dropping to the ground. "Stars so loud! Loud, Cloud, Proud! Dad and I are both ok. We're gonna be fine. " He stood up again. "I'm just not sure I'm like you, Oliver."

"We need to get him back to STAR Labs, now." Caitlin walked forward, injecting him with a sedative and Joe dragged him out. I stayed where I was. I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Laura..." Cisco said. I shook my head.

"I'm gonna stay. Um...someone has to clean this up before someone sees it. You um...you go on without me." He squeezed my shoulder and then all of then were gone. I snapped a picture of all the walls for Cisco, and then quickly went and got a spray bottle and a rag and closed the door behind me. I honestly didn't know what was worse. Having Barry in a delusional state, speaking nonsense, or not having Barry at all.

~~~

When I got back to STAR Labs, everyone was in the Cortex except for Barry and Iris.

"Hey, where's Iris-" My question was cut off as a flash of yellow lightening zoomed past me and I was hurled into the wall. I laid on the floor, putting a hand to my head. I felt blood oozing from a cut on my forehead. I looked up as Wally was thrown through the Med Bay window.

"Barry! Barry stop!" Joe shouted. Sparks shot out of the various equipment that Barry was currently crashing into a speeds impossible for regular humans to replicate.

"Breach him to the pipeline!" Iris yelled, coming into the room.

"He's too fast!" Cisco replied. Suddenly a blast of ice shot out of nowhere, sending Barry to the ground, surrounded by frost. We all looked up to see Caitlin with the prototype cold gun, which was a variation of the one that Leonard Snart uses.

"Expecting someone else?" She questioned. 

"We need to get him in a containment cell before he does that again." Joe said. The computer beeped a metahuman alert.

"Samurai's back." Caitlin stated.

"More like Samurai Jackwagon. Nope, that was a rough draft." Cisco said. I floated to my feet, going to the med bay and helping Wally up before grabbing some supplies to clean up my head.

"It hasn't even been a full day yet. He said he'd level the city if we didn't bring him The Flash."

"Then let's give him what he asked for." Wally suggested. I nodded.

"Might as well try." They all looked at me.

"Laura, you're bleeding." Iris pointed out. I shrugged.

"It's fine. I'll catch up. Caitlin, can you give me a hand?"

"Yeah. Come on." I sat down on the bed and she took the supplies from my hand, tending to the cut. "How are you doing? You do look better. Aside from the blood."

"I'm...processing, I think." I replied. "I'm glad he's back, but...he's not at the same time, and I just...I don't really know what to think at this point." She nodded.

"I understand that. I think we all do." I nodded. "Luckily it's just a flesh wound. You won't need stitches."

"Great. I'm good to go?" She put a bandage on my head.

"Good to go."

"Thanks, Caitlin. And...how are you? Just in general, not necessarily about Barry." She sighed.

"Like you...I'm processing. I don't really know how to feel."

"Well...hopefully we can figure it out." I stood up, taking off my clothes to reveal my costume underneath and putting my mask on before flying out the door.